Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Do you have customers, clients or employees in Europe? Are you interested in selling to customers in Europe in the future?

If the answer to either of these questions is yes, join us and learn about how the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) may impact your business when it comes into force in May 2018. Failure to comply with the GDPR could result in stiff fines as high as 4 percent of your company’s overall revenue.

In 2016, the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce launched the EU- U.S. Privacy Shield Framework to provide U.S. companies with a mechanism to comply with EU data protection requirements when transferring personal data from the EU to the United States. Over 2,300 companies use this program to transfer data. Privacy Shield can play an integral role in many companies’ overall GDPR compliance strategy.

On March 23, the U.S. Commercial Service will offer a half-day program to inform and help U.S. companies prepare. Speakers include Isabelle Roccia, Policy Advisor, U.S. Mission to the European Union, Michelle Sylvester-Jose, Privacy Shield Advisor, U.S. Department of Commerce and others.

Mexico aims for EU free-trade deal by end of February

Published at Reuters.com on February 7, 2018. Writing by Philip Blenkinsop.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Mexico believes it can conclude a new free-trade agreement with the European Union before the end of February, a Mexican official close to the talks said on Wednesday.

The EU and Mexico intend to update a trade deal agreed 21 years ago that largely covers industrial goods. They want to add farm products, more services, investment and government procurement, and include provisions on labor standards and environmental protection.

Mexican negotiators are in Brussels this week, with the two sides due to reconvene next week in Mexico.

The Mexican official said EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom could come in the week starting Feb. 19 to help push talks to a close and to allow an initial deal to be announced, though only if a deal was within reach.

Canada to sign Pacific trade deal, labor and auto sectors fume

Published at Reuters.com on January 23, 2018. Writing by David Ljunggren; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Susan Thomas

MONTREAL (Reuters) - Canada said on Tuesday it would sign onto a revised 11-member Asia-Pacific trade pact after pushing to secure a better deal, underpinning a government drive to diversify exports amid doubts over NAFTA.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos that he helped push for an improved deal, showing how important the trade file has become for him personally.

But a major labor union and a group representing auto parts manufacturers said the deal would cause job losses.

Trade officials signed off on a final text earlier in the day after a meeting in Tokyo to overcome challenges such as Canada’s insistence on protection of its cultural industries.

Find the Right Export Market with Export Video Series

By Curt Cultice, Senior Communications Specialist, and Jennifer Stone Marshall, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service. (originally published in Tradeology, the official blog of the ITA: https://blog.trade.gov/).

Many U.S companies—particularly small and medium-sized businesses—don’t export because they believe it’s too burdensome, or don’t know where to start. How about your company? Are you leaving money on the table by not selling to the 95 percent of world consumers who live outside of the United States?

We can help you find the right export market. The internet, improved logistics options, and the array of available export assistance through the U.S. Commercial Service and federal, state and local partners, has made exporting more viable for even the smallest businesses.

Successful exporting is highly dependent on developing an export plan, or “roadmap.” Many companies begin export activities haphazardly, without carefully screening markets or options for market entry. Without an export plan, the chances of making a costly mistake increases, and better export opportunities are often overlooked. This in turn, can cost your company valuable time, resources and customers.

National Events

Global Events

No events

New to Business? Start here!

Are you thinking about starting a business of your own? Starting a business is an exciting proposition, but it’s also an incredibly challenging undertaking. These resources will help you learn about what it takes to start a business Read more...

Export Documentation

Plan ahead by learning about export documents, what you need to know and how to leverage them.